BAN vs SA Test Series, Bangladesh Squad: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday announced a 15-member squad for the first Test match against South Africa. This match will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. Shakib's name is also in the Bangladesh team. 37-year-old Shakib recently announced his retirement from T20 international cricket during the India tour. He expressed his desire to retire from Test cricket at his home ground Dhaka. The Bangladesh vs South Africa two-match Test series will start from October 21.

Bangladesh had to face a clean sweep in the Test and T20 series against India. BCB has made only one change in the Test squad for the first match against South Africa. Fast bowler Khalid Ahmed has been shown the way out.

Bangladesh Squad for 1stTest against South Africa: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque Showrab, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumar Das (wk), Zaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana.

Shakib Al Hasan's Last Test Match

Shakib Al Hasan had announced his retirement during the Test series against India. He had said that if he is selected in the team for the Test series against South Africa, it will be his last match. He also said that if he does not get a chance in the Bangladesh series, then the Kanpur Test will be the last match of his Test career. Shakib Al Hasan has already retired from T20 cricket. At the same time, he will play till the Champions Trophy in the ODI format.

Security Concerns for Shakib in Bangladesh

Shakib was under tension since the political turmoil in Bangladesh. He has been playing only abroad since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in Bangladesh. Shakib was an Awami League MP. A murder case registered in Dhaka includes the names of 147 people including Shakib. The all-rounder was afraid of getting into trouble after returning to Bangladesh. However, the BCB was constantly trying to ensure that the experienced cricketer does not face any difficulties after returning home. Shakib had expressed his fear before the second Test against India in Kanpur.

"Firstly, I would like to pay my respects to all the students who sacrificed their lives, led the anti-discrimination movement, and were martyred or injured during the people's uprising," Shakib wrote on his Facebook page recently.

"I want to say goodbye with all of you around. At the moment of farewell, I want to shake hands with those whose applause compelled me to play better. I want to meet the eyes of those who cheered in joy when I played well and whose eyes welled up with tears when I did not," he added.

Initially, Faruque Ahmed, the new president of the BCB, had rejected Shakib's request for security, stating that the board was not a security agency and could not guarantee any cover for him.

However, Asif Mahmud, the sports advisor to Bangladesh's interim government, stated that Shakib would be provided security once his political stance was clear.

Phil Simmons was recently appointed as the head coach of Bangladesh Cricket Team, replacing Sri Lanka's Chandika Hathurusinghe. This test series will be Phil's first assignment with Bangladesh. His tenure is set to run till the Champions Trophy 2025.

Following the two Tests, Bangladesh will depart for the UAE for a three-ODI series against Afghanistan.